How to Build your Own Horizontal Tripod Attachment for Flat Lay Photography

Flat lay photography is surging in popularity but can be difficult to master- especially without the right tools. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a horizontal mount for a tripod so you can stabilize your camera at the perfect angle, leaving you free to stage your flat lay layout with an exact preview of how your photo will turn out.

Why Special Equipment for Flay Lay Photos?

The more I’ve branched into hand lettering and promoting my illustration and graphic recording through Instagram, I’ve realized I needed to master the flat lay in order to create photography on par with trend leaders.

My hand-held attempts at killer flat lay photography just weren’t, well, killer. With a little research, I learned that many flat lay masters of Instagram use one of the many commercially produced Horizontal Camera Mounts. Unfortunately for me and my fledgling experimentation as a flat lay photographer, I couldn’t find even one model priced under $75!

Determined to DIY my way to a cheaper alternative, I began experimenting. Through trial and error, I managed to create this horizontal extension arm for my standard tripod that works perfectly to mount my DSLR or my tripod adapting phone holder to a tripod in order stage perfect overhead photography.

This homemade flatlay tripod works great for amateur Instagram or product photos

Using this Hack with Smartphone

You will need to purchase a small phone adapter, in order to use this extension arm with a phone. Personally, I use mine with a Google Pixel (which is saving me TONS on data and, depending on the lighting, sometimes takes better photos than my DSLR). This tripod adapter will adapt this flat-lay extension arm to hold your phone.

Intro to Tutorial

Horizontal camera arms are expensive! While commercial models start at about $75, in this tutorial I’ll show you how to make a horizontal extension arm for your camera tripod with less than $10 worth of materials. With such a huge savings, this is definitely one of the best-values tutorials I have created.

To save even more, stop by your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 2 of the parts- 1.25″ PVC pipe and 1.25″ PVC Pipe Caps are usually in abundance at ReStores and may be as much as 90% less than lumberyard prices.

A note on the obvious: Use at your own risk. This DIY version might not be quite as sturdy as a commercial model. Use common sense, protect your safety and your camera (in that order), and if possible use a buddy during set up and take down, as careless removal of either camera or counterweight can quickly destabilize your tripod and cause damage to camera or tripod adapter. However, with care and extra support, this DIY is a cheap solution that works great.

A standard camera tripod is required as a starting point. If you don’t already have a tripod, check out the cheap tripod I love or check local thrift stores (doublecheck that a second-hand tripod still includes the small adapter that sits atop the tripod and screws into the port on the bottom of your camera)

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to build an extension arm for your tripod that will hold your camera stable in a horizontal position over your subject.

[double check your supplies before starting: the 1/4″-20TPI bolts should screw into the 14″-20TPI coupling nut, the coupling nut should securely screw on to your tripod mount adaptor, and the 1/4″-20TPI bolt should screw tightly into the tripod mount port on the bottom of your camera. If all these pieces fit and secure snugly, you’re set to continue]

Before beginning, double check that the parts you’ve sourced interlock. The links and dimensions provided above are for nuts and bolts that fit standard photography equipment as shown here.

Required Tools:

How to Build your Own Horizontal Tripod Attachment for Flay Lay Photography

Before I walk you through the step by step DIY guide, here’s an image with the layout and hardware illustrated. Yellow markup indicates bolts and equipment needed to convert a simple PVC pipe into an ultra-affordable horizontal camera mount.

Step 1: Prepare Camera Mount End:

Begin by drilling a 1/4″ hole in the center of the PVC pipe cap

Once drilled, insert the bolt, extending from inside out. The bolt should fit TIGHT.

Tighten bolt till it extends about 1/3″ from the exterior of the cap, as shown.

Place superglue along the base of the cap and insert into the cap. Tap on a hard surface to ensure the end of the pipe has fully seated in the bottom of the cap, in contact with the superglue.

Step 2: Drill Holes

Next, drill two holes in your pipe. One in the center of the pipe midway down the length and one hole in the center of the pipe about an inch from the unfinished end.

It’s easier to drill into a pipe if you first place duct tape on the pipe. The tape helps to prevent your drill bit from slipping off the curved surface.Drill a hole on the end, and then repeat midway down the length of the pipe.

Step 3. Prepare Center Hole for Tripod Mount

These photos demonstrate the required actions performed at the end of the pipe, but you will be performing these instructions on the center hole drilled midway down your pipe in the previous step. (I’m gonna pretend I did this on purpose to illustrate, and not that it was an ill-fated first attempt).

Midway down your pipe, you have a hole that extends through both sides of the pipe. Affix the 1/2″ Drill Bit to your drill and re-drill ONE of these 2 holes as a 1/2″ wide hole.

DO NOT widen both holes. We need one to stay small to secure the 1/4″ bolt.

This image shows what your center hole should look like if you were able to view cross section.

Step 4. Attach Counterweight Mount

The final step is easy: just insert a bolt into the hole drilled on the uncapped end. Be sure the head of the bolt is located on the opposite side of the pipe from where the tripod mount is attached.

Screw in until secure, but no further. Use this protruding bolt as a hook to attach counterweight. When the camera is attached to the camera-mount end, hook a bag with equivalent weight on this bolt to counterbalance and stabilize your camera and minimize stress on your tripod adapter.

A third bold partially inserted into the pip serves as a hook for counterweights.

That’s it! With the right supplies and these 4 easy steps, you can create this extension arm for your camera or phone

Flat Lay Photography Tips

Use a Remote Shutter

Due to the material, angle, and extension, you’ll notice slight wiggle when you touch your camera when attached to your tripod this way. Because of this, I consider a remote shutter to be essential, and a remote shutter with an extension cord to be ideal. With a remote shutter and lots of play in your cord, you can locate your switch on a stable surface nearby. This will allow you to press your shutter and take a photograph with zero camera movement, resulting in a clearer picture.

One thought on “How to Build your Own Horizontal Tripod Attachment for Flat Lay Photography”

This almost worked for me. However, the holes that I drilled using a 1/4″ bit were too big and the screws would not tighten because they fit right in the holes instead of being snug. So I will have to redo the holes with a slightly smaller bit and try again. But I’m excited to make my own tripod arm instead of spending an arm and a leg! Thank you for the tutorial!

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About Me

Raised as a feral child in the 1980's craft-show scene, I love all things art and DIY. In 2015 I transitioned from a career in retail/tech to full time grad school- accidentally becoming an illustrator, writer, and sometimes speaker somewhere along the way.

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Some of my tutorials call for specific products or art supplies, and when possible, I do the legwork to locate those parts for you.

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